Visit to Trichy and Tanjore Temples

Date of Visit: 14^th and 15^th Sep 2007

Trip to Bitchandar koil, Thirukandiyur, Thirupattur and Thenkudi Thittai

We had to go to Trichy and Tanjore for a marriage and a Grahapravesam on consecutive days and we wanted to utilize it to visit some new temples which we had not visited before. By sitting on internet for a few hours I found out that Bitchandar koil, Tirupattur near Trichy and Kandiyur near Tanjore have a connected legend with the 3 moorthies – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva and so decided to visit them. Incidentally one more Guruthalam, Thittai also got into our list and unknowingly it ended up in a Temple visit of 3 very special Guru temples.

Legend connection between Bitchandarkoil, Thirukandiyur, Thirupattur

• Once Brahma was egoistic over Shiva since he also had five heads like Shiva and had the privilege as the creator of all lives. Also once Parvathi mistook Brahma for Shiva because of the five heads, washed his (Brahma’s) legs and served him. Lord Shiva got angry and so plucked his fifth head in order to avoid the identity clash and also to teach a lesson for his ego.
• BitchandarKoil:
  Due to this, Lord Shiva got the Brahmaharthi Dhosham and the plucked head of Brahma stuck to his palm. Shiva then went around on a pilgrimage to clear off the curse by begging for food with Brahmma’s skull as the begging vessel. But whatever was put in the vessel it immediately vanished away. Finally at Bitchandar Koil, at the behest of Perumal, Goddess Lakshmi as Poornavalli thayar filled the vessel to end Shiva’s hunger.
• Thirukandiyur:
  However, to Shiva’s dismay, Brahmma’s skull was still stuck to his palm. At the behest of Vishnu, Shiva bathed at Thirukandiyur and prayed to Goddess Kamalavalli and Lord Vishnu. Through this, Shiva finally attained salvation and got rid of the stuck head.
• Thirupattur:
  After losing his fifth head and the privileged duty of creation, realizing his mistake, Brahma worshipped Shiva at various places. During that process, at Thirupattur, Brahma worshipped Shiva with 12 lingams in the same place and got liberated from his curse and also got back his privilege as the creator of lives.
• So briefly, after Shiva plucking out Brahma’s fifth’s head,
  • Bitchandar koil is where Lord Shiva’s hunger was ended
  • Thirukandiyur is where Lord Shiva was relieved of his curse
  • Thirupattur is where Lord Brahma was relieved of his curse

Many forms of Guru:

Initially I was confused a bit with many Guru Lords since

• Lord Dhakshinamoorthy (Shiva) being called Guru in most places and
• one of the navagrahas being Guru and
• Lord Brahma also being called Guru.

So I was wondering Guruvaram (Thursday) is connected with whom and the Gurupeyarchi is connected with whom. Actually I started off the tour with all these confusions only but luckily all my confusions were cleared off recently. So let me give the details before I go into the travelogue.

Actually there are more Lord Gurus than I knew (more confusion for me). Altogether there are 7 Guru Lords being called ‘SapthaGurus’ and they are:

• Deva Guru or Raja Guru – Brahaspathi, Navagraha Guru, Jupiter star, connected with Thursday. He is the one, who conducts all the yagnas for the devars. Once in a year, this Guru moves from one star to the other and this is called the Gurupeyarchi. He can only do good things and can nullify the bad effects of the other Navagraha stars as well.
• Asuru guru – Sukracharyar, Navagraha Sukran, capable of bringing back the life of dead
• Brahma Guru – Four headed Lord Brahma
• Vishnu Guru – Varadharaja Perumal
• Shiva Guru – Dakshinamoorthy, the knowledge form of Lord Shiva. Though the Navagraha star Devaguru is all powerful, none of the Navagraha stars is capable of removing one’s doshas completely. So to do the pariharam for a particular Navagraha dhosham, one has to worship the star’s Adhi devathai or Prathyathi devathai. In this way, for Guru dhosha pariharam, actually one has to worship the prathyathi devatha of Navagraha Guru, Lord Brahma. But since Lord Brahma doesn’t have a separate temple, or sannidhi, or even if it exists, no special poojas are done for Him, we worship the Lord of all navagrahas, Dakshinamoorthy as Guru.
• Sakthi Guru – Soundarya Parvathi
• Subramanya Guru – Taught to his father, Lord Shiva himself

Important Guru Temples:

• All the 7 gurus are present in Bitchandar Koil
• Lord Brahma is present as Guru in Thirupattur and
• Navagraha Guru is present as Guru only in Thittai, Thiruvalidhayam popularly known as Padi near Chennai and Trichendur

1. Visit to Bitchandar koil (also called Uthamar Koil):

Location:

Bitchandar koil is about 7 kms fom Trichy, 2-3 kms from Srirangam, on the Chennai route and at about 200 meters from Tollgate, a well known place in Trichy. You have to take a left turn at Tollgate to the Trichy-Salem (Thuraiyur) main road. Immediately you will encounter a road over-bridge and the temple is under and to the right of the over bridge.

Quick Facts:

One of the 108 Divyadesams
Moorthies and Goddesses:

Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswathi facing South
Lord Vinshnu as Purushothama perumal in sayana pose and Goddess Pooranavalli Thayar facing east
Lord Shiva as Birchandar facing west and Goddess Sondharya Parvathi, Vadivudai Nayaki facing south.

Historical names: Thirukarambanur, Thirukarambanthurai, Adhimapuram, Kadhambavanam, Kadhambanur, Karambanur, Brahmapuri, Neebhavanam, Neebhakshetram
Sthalavruksham: Kadhamba tree
Vimanam: Udhyoha vimanam
Mangalasasanam: Thirumangaiazhwar
Festivals: The annual brahmostavam for Perumal is in Chithirai (April) and that of Shiva during Vaikasi (May). The utsava vigraha of Lord Ranganathar of Srirangam is being brought to the Kadhamba theertham here during the Masi festival. Apart from these, other festivals take place through all the Tamil months.

The Temple:

The temple is in a beautiful surrounding, with many coconut trees around in the backdrop of the road over-bridge. It is a very popular one and is considered auspicious to visit on a Thursday and so will be crowded normally on Thursdays. Incidentally, we were lucky to be there on a Thursday and it was a muhurtha day as well and so there was a significant crowd with many marriages going on in the temple. Even then, it was not a very long wait.

On entering, first you will see the east facing Purushothama perumal sannidhi where he is present in sayana pose. To the left of Perumal sannidhi, Goddess Mahalakshmi as Pooranavalli thayar is present facing east. To the right of Perumal sannidhi, Jayaveera Anjaneyar with his left leg in front is present in a separate sannidhi.

At the back of the Perumal sannidhi, the Shiva temple is present facing west. In the sanctum sanctorum, Shiva as Bitchadanar is present in the form of lingam. Near to him, Bitchandar’s Urchava moorthy is present. In the front mandapam, Goddess Soundarya parvathi is present as Sakthi Guru facing south in a separate shrine. In the prahara wall, Lord Dakshinamoorthy and Lord Bitchadanar (as sila vigraham) are present as Koshta moorthies facing south. In a separate shrine, twin Vinayahars and Bala lingam are present.

In the northeast, Vishnu Guru Varadharaja Perumal, Brahma Guru Lord Brahma and Knowledge Lord Goddess Saraswathi are present in separate shrines facing south.

Apart from this, Natarajar, Subramaniyar, Saneeswarar, Andal, Lakshmi Narayanar, Ramar, and Bama Rukmani samedha Venugopalar are present in separate shrines.

Thirumangai Azhwar lived here and supervised the construction of Srirangam temple renovation. The northern part of Kadhamba pushkarani and the adjoining gardens and mandapams are still called ‘Azhawar pattavarthi’.

Legends:

• Once there was an ego clash between Lords Brahma and Vishnu on who is more significant. It was decided whoever sees first the foot or the hair of Lord Shiva will be considered the bigger one of them. So Vishnu, in varaha roopam, went below the earth to find the foot of Lord Shiva while Brahma went up to see the hair. At that time, a Thazampoo fell from the head of Shiva and Brahma requested the thazhampoo to give a false witness as if he has seen the hair of Lord Shiva. They did so and Lord Shiva got angry. He cursed Brahma that he will not have any dedicated temple for him and cursed Thazhampoo that it will not be used in any Sivapoojas. On requesting pardon by Brahma, Shiva blessed that the big festivals and temple car festivals will be called Brahmostavam in the name of Brahma. Also he made way that Brahma is present as Koshta moorthy in the outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum.
• Lord Shiva got the Brahmaharthi Dosham because of plucking Lord Brahma’s head and he was begging for food with Brahma’s skull as the vessel but whatever was put in the vessel, it immediately vanished. At the behest of Perumal, Poornavalli thayar (Goddess Lakshmi) filled the vessel here to end Shiva’s hunger. That’s why Shiva is called Bitchandar (Bitchai – begging for food).
• The reason why Shiva took the form of Bitchandar is explained in Sivapuranam as follows:
  Once the rishis at Tharukavanam near here (now called Thirupparaithurai in the Trichy-Kulitalai route) were very egoistic feeling that their knowledge and spiritual powers are just sufficient to uplift the people. They felt God is not at all needed since one’s karma only is responsible for the pain and pleasure of him. Equally the rishis’ ladies were also very egoistic thinking that they were the most beautiful of all the worlds including the devaloha ladies and the consorts of the 3 moorthies. Wanting to teach a lesson, Shiva took the form of a beautiful full nude beggar with all his sheen as Bitchadanar accompanied by Vishnu as Mohini.
  To teach the lesson first for the ladies, they both went to Agraharam begging. On seeing such a divinely personality with a magnetic voice for the first time, the ladies forgot themselves, forgot what they were doing and came to streets to see him. On seeing the beauty of the Mohini (Vishnu), they felt ashamed and embarrassed with their egoistic thinking about their beauty. Followed by the ladies of the rishis, both Bitchadanar and Mohini went to Tharuhavanam, 15 kms from Uthamar koil, where the rishis were doing a yagna.
  On getting furious over their ladies getting attracted towards this nude beggar, the rishis did different things like creating an elephant, Tiger etc., through yagnas, sending mantras and vedas to fight Bitchadanar but nothing could stand in front of Him. Shiva finally revealed his true identity and did a furious dance in front of them. On knowing their mistake, the rishis at once surrendered to Bitchadanar. The rishis learnt hard way that learning all the mantras and vedas are only to promote the human lives and to do good to the society.
• Brahma was born in the lotus from the Nabi of Perumal. While Brahma was worshipping Perumal daily, Perumal once wanted to test Brahma and so hid himself as a Kadhamba tree at Uthamar Koil. Brahma was worried much and searched him everywhere. Finally Brahma found Perumal as Kadhamba tree here and worshipped him. Perumal blessed him by giving the privilege as the creator of all lives. Lord Brahma stayed here blessing his devotees.
• The holy water from Lord Brahma’s Kamandalam with which he did the Abhisheham for Perumal formed here as a tank. Sage Kadhambar was under penance at the banks of this tank and got the dharshan of all the 3 moorthies with their consorts. The temple tank is called Kadhamba Pushkarani in his name. That’s how all the 3 moorthies are present here with their consorts
• Once when King Janaka was on a pilgrimage seeking Perumal dharshan, came to Kadhambavanam here and felt the divinity in the place. So he prepared to conduct a yagna here. When everyone was praying with closed eyes, a dog spoiled the sanctity of the yagna items. At the end of the yagna, the rishis forgot the completion sloka of the yagna. Worried janaka prayed to Perumal and a sage coming that way told Janaka to pray to the Kadhamba tree there. On doing so, King Janaka heard the holy voice that informed about the spoiling of the sanctity of the Yagna by the dog. So Janakar started another yagna with new yagna items which completed successfully. Happy Janaka enquired the identity of the Sage who guided him. The sage smiled and asked to worship the Kadhamba tree again. On doing so, the Kadhamba tree which was nothing but the form of Vedas, spilt into two and Purushothama perumal in sayana pose with Lord Brahma in his Naabi lotus and Lord Shiva in Bitchadanar form by the side gave dharshan. King Janaka then built this temple.
• King Sathkeerthivarthan was childless and when he got a child by praying to God, he did elaborate renovation by constructing the mandapams, praharams, udhyoha vimanams etc., He started many temple functions as well.
• Garudan also worshipped Perumal here.

Highlights:

• One of the 108 divyadesams and a temple for Shiva-Vaishnava unison. A Divyadesam honoured next to only Srirangam in the Divyadesam list.
• The only temple where all the 3 moorthies – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are present with their consorts in 6 separate sannidhis.
• Shiva appeared in one of his 63 forms, Bitchadanar, a very significant one.
• All the seven gurus – Brahma Guru, Vishnu Guru, Siva Guru, Sakthi Guru, Subramanaya Guru, Deva Guru, Asura Guru – are present here. This is the only temple where Lord Brahma himself is present as Lord Guru facing South in a separate shrine with the vimanam and Urchava moorthy. In other temples, only Lord Dakshinamoorthy will be present as Lord Guru. So this is a very significant Temple for Guru Worship.
• Lord Brahma normally seen only as koshta moorthy in the outer prahara walls of the sanctum sanctorum is having a separate shrine here.
• Goddess Saraswathi, seen in a separate temple only in Koothanur, is present here in a separate sannidhi with vimanam.

Worship benefits:

• Here Lord Brahma got his privilege as the creator of all lives and so by worshipping Lord Brahma one is sure to get all his wants.
• Here Goddess Lakshmi as Pooranavalli Thayar ended Shiva’s hunger by filling the begging vessel of Shiva and so by worshipping the Pooranavalli Thayar, one will be free from hunger and poverty and will be blessed with all ishwaryams.
• By worshipping Goddess Saraswathi present in a separate sannidhi one will be blessed with knowledge and education.
• By worshipping Bitchadanar who ended the egos of the rishis, one will be free from his ego and bad wills.

2. Visit to Sri Brahmapureeswarar temple at Thirupattur:

Location:

At 30 kms from Trichy, this is also in the same route of Trichy-Chennai. After Tollgate and Samayapuram and at about 10 kms from Samayauram, at Siruganur, take a left turn (towards west) and go for another 4 kms to reach the temple. There is a clear sign board for the temple at the highway crossing.

Quick facts:

Main deity: Swayambu linga as Brahmapureeswarar
Goddess: Brahma Sampath Gowri
Other main deity: Lord Brahma
Sthala Vriksham: Mahizha tree
Theertham: Brahma Theertham and Bahula Theertham
Sung by: Appar, Sundarar and Sekkizhar

Legend:

After loosing his fifth head and all his powers, Brahma realized his mistake since his privileged duty of creation was affected and so worshipped Shiva at various places. During the process, at this place, called Thirupidavur then, he worshipped Shiva with a lingam under a Magizha tree with water from the nearby tank, now called Brahma Theertham. He also installed 12 lingams around in this place and worshipped Shiva for a long time. On being moved by this, Shiva gave dharshan under the Magizha tree itself and liberated him from his punishment so that he can start his privilege of creation again. That’s why Shiva is called Brahmapureeswarar here. Also mother Parasakthi gave back all his sheen and that’s why the ambal is called Brahma Sampath Gowri. Also, Shiva blessed Brahma with the power of changing the ill fate of anyone who worship Brahma here.

The Temple:

Though this is a very ancient temple, this has become popular only since the last 3-4 years. Since this is also a temple for Brahma, it is very auspicious to visit on a Thursday and again, we were lucky to be there on a Thursday. The sanctum sanctorum houses Brahmapureeswarar in the form of Swayambu lingam and the shrine of Lord Brahmma is a separate one in the inner praharam by the side of the sanctum sanctorum. The Brahma shrine is in open such that one can have a very close dharshan of the deity. The four headed deity is present alone in meditative pose sitting in Padmasana on a lotus. It is magnificent 6 feet high and 6.5 feet circumference and was decorated in turmeric (manjal) kappu. To see the magnificent deity in full yellow in open so closely was really amazing and beautiful.

The jeeva samdhi of Sage Pathanjali is in the inner praharam just opposite the Brahma’s shrine. There is also a Badhala lingam, (lingam below the ground level) and it seems there will be a Badhala lingam wherever there is a jeeva samadhi of any sage/ sithar (I don’t know what the link between them is).

The various lingams that Brahma worshipped are present in the nandavanam adjacent to the Ambal shrine. In the same place, there is a beautiful temple tank with steps on all 4 sides called Brahma Theertham which was used by Brahma for his Shiva worship. Also, Bahula theertham is present here.

Highlights:

• A beautiful temple with intricate sculpture works.
• It is good to worship Brahma on Mondays and Thursdays
• Sung by Appar, Sundarar and Sekkizhar
• From the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum, there are 7 stages of steps indicating 7 days of a week. For 3 days from 15^th to 17^th of the tamil month Panguni every year, the sun rays falls on the main deity crossing through these 7 stages.
• It is generally believed that one’s fate can not be changed by any means but it can happen here since the ill fate of Brahma, the creator, himself was changed to good by Shiva. A turning point in one’s life can be expected by visiting this place.
• Contact information: R,Baskara Gurukkal 0431-2650439/ 94438 17385

Note: Another sacred place, the jeeva samdhi of Pulipani sithar is near the Brahma temple and there are sign boards showing directions but we could not visit it.

Update:

On 26th Nov 2011, we made our second visit to this temple. It was a heavy downpour all the way and I had to drive only at 20 kms speed with the full headlight on at 12 noon.  While entering the temple, the door was half closed and we were driven crazy to finish the dharshan because the temple was about to be closed. While coming out of the temple, I could pathetically saw many devotees helplessly standing outside with an upset face. While driving back, I also saw many vehicles rushing towards the temple.

I don’t understand why this highly popular temple is being closed at 12 noon on a weekend Saturday and the authorities may please understand that

1) this temple is not in the city and not in easy access through the bus route also. Devotees have to travel in cars, buses and autos for many kms; some poor will even have to walk down for 5-6 kms from the highway
2) this temple has become highly popular and not a deserted one
3) the  devotees are coming to this Lord for many problems and with many prayers; when they are unable to see the Lord, it will be a highly emotional setback for them.
4) the temple was built by our ancestors for us and the people in power should “just maintain” it with utmost sincerity; the sin of returning them back may fall on them
5) It may be ok to close the temple at 12 noon on a normal day but definitely it will upset many devotees on the weekend Saturdays and Sundays
Hope the authorities will listen.

Had we been late by just 5 minutes, we could have also missed it. Anyway we had a rushed dharshan in all the shrines. In the inner praharam, there are openings in the stone ceiling to get sufficient light in the praharam but on that rainy day, huge amount of rain water was entering the inner praharam through the ceiling from all sides at a high speed. So there was a knee deep water in the inner praharam. It is obvious that the Pallavas, Cholas and Nayaks, with so much architectural skill, would not have designed like that. There should have been a proper drainage to the temple tank from the inner praharam and it is obvious it is not working now.  Remember this temple is popular only for the last few years before that it was an abandoned one! The authorities should immediately rectify the fault, which otherwise would spoil the entire structure of the temple.

I was taken by surprise by an awesome Nandhi in front of the Kailasanathar shrine which I missed during my first visit. It is in the separate (somewhat abandoned) place where the temple tank and all the Shiva lingams worshipped by Lord Brahmma are present. The Nandi is just beautiful without any ornament  and with an amazingly smooth finish. What an amazing skill of the sculptor! I understand that the Pallava period Nandis are without or with less ornamaents and the ornaments grow in Chola period and have maximum in Nayak period.

Here is that Nandhi:

3. Visit to Hara Saabha Vimosana Perumal temple at Thirukkandiyur

Location:

About 11 kms from Tanjore, enroute to Thiruvaiyaru and 2 kms before Thiruvaiyaru. The temple is on the main road itself.

Quick Facts:

• One of the 108 divya desams
• Main deity: Hara Sapa Vimochana Perumal/ Kamalanathan in standing posture facing east.
• Goddess: Kamalavalli Naachiyar
• This is also known as the Pancha Kamala Kshetram due to the five factors – Lord Kamalanathan, Goddess Kamalavalli, Kamala Pushkarani, Kamalaakrithi Vimaanam and Kamala Kshetram.
• Mangalasasanam: Thirumangai Azhvaar
• Other shrines: Narasimhar, Garudar and Andal
• Priest: Sriram Bhattachar, Oththa Theru, Kalyanapuram, Thiruvayaru.
  Contact no: 98653 02750

Legend:

• Shiva got the Brahmaharthi dosham after plucking Brahma’s fifth head. Though his hunger was ended by Goddess Lakshmi at Uthamar Koil, the fifth head of Brahma that got stuck to Shiva’s palm did not leave. Vishnu answered Shiva’s prayer for salvation and asked him to bathe at Kandiyur. Shiva prayed to Goddess Kamalavalli and Vishnu at Kandiyur and attained salvation from Lord Kamalanathan here.
• Because Shiva got cleansed of his curse, the deity here is called ‘Hara Saabha Vimosana Perumal’ (Hara is another name of Shiva).

The Temple:

The place is called Kandiyur, in Lord Shiva’s name Kandeeswarar. A small and beautiful temple present just on the main road itself. The utsava perumal is present with his left foot in front. It is our custom that we put our right foot first while entering our house in any subha function. During marriages, we take extreme care that the bride enters the in-law’s house for the first time with her right foot first. In the same way while going out, we have to set our left foot first to bring home success. It seems this is still being followed in Army march pasts.

Prayer Benefits:

Being the place where Shiva himself got salvation from his curse, it is believed that all our curses will go away if one visits this temple.

Note:
Just across the road, there is a Shiva temple, one of the eight Veeratta sthalams where there are shrines of Brahma and Saraswathi also. When we were there, there was a big crowd in front of the temple with many police personnel due to some trouble and so we could not visit the temple.

4a. Thittai (also called Then kudi Thittai) – Guru temple

Location:

The temple is located at about 15 kms from Tanjore. While traveling towards Kumbakonam, after crossing the city bypass ring road, you will see a ‘Y’ branching to Thiruvaiyaru and Kumbakonam. Take the right turn, enroute to Kumbakonam and travel further for about 2 kms, you will encounter a right side road to Melattur. There is a clear sign board for the temple at this junction. From here, the temple is about 6 kms.

Quick Facts:

• One of the 275 shivasthalams glorified by the Tevaram Hymns
• Main deity: Pasupateeswarar Vasishteswarar as Swayambu lingam
• Goddess: Ulaganayaki, Sugandhamundalambika
• Theertham: Chakra theertham
• Vriksham: Karuvelamaram
• Patikam: Sambandar

The Temple:

Actually Alangudi near Kumbakonam is the main Guru Parihara sthalam of the Navagraha temples around Kumbakonam where Lord Dakshinamoorthy is being worshipped as Guru but this Vasishteswarar temple at Thittai is also considered a Guru Parihara sthalam where the Navagraha star Guru (Jupiter) is present as Guru in a separate shrine with vimanam.

The temple is in a beautiful village atmosphere. A big, well maintained temple tank called ‘Chakra theertha’ is present in front of the temple in the vast open space that adds beauty to the temple. The tank is clean and largely used by the villagers. Various pillars in the temple are plain without any intricate sculpture works but the temple is beautiful, especially the area of Nandhi-Balipeetam-Dwajasthambam which is in an elevated height that gives a majestic look for them.

The main deity is Vasishteswar in the form of a Swayambu lingam and on top of the ceiling in the sanctum sanctorum, there are Surya Kantha and Chandra Kantha stones which absorb moisture from the air and let it drip as water drops on the lingam. A clear witness to the advanced scientific/ architectural knowledge our country had possessed. Across the Ambal shrine there is a mandapam with carvings of the 12 zodiac signs.

Legends:

• The name of the place originates from the word “thittu” in Tamil which means a sand dune or an elevated place. Legend has it that during pralaya period when the whole world was submerged, the Gods of creation, protection and destruction took shelter in the “thittu” here between the Vennar and Vettar rivers. Shiva appeared here in the form of a Swayambhu Lingam.
• The place is also called Therur or Rathapuram, the name arises from the legend of the chariot of a king by name Sumali getting stuck in the dunes here.
• The Vedas, Renukadevi, Vasishtar, Gowtama, Adi Seshan, Kamadhenu and Vishnu are said to have worshipped here. The principal deity is called Vasishteswarar since the sage Vasishtar worshipped him.
• The Goddess Ulaganayaki is also known as Sugantha Kunthalambigai since a Vaisya girl by name Sugantha Kunthala got her deceased husband back to life after worshipping Ulaganayaki here. Hence, Ulaganayaki is worshipped for not just protecting everyone on earth but also for the long life of one’s husband.

Highlights:

• In most other temples Lord Dakshinamoorthy is being worshipped as Guru and only in three places – Thittai (here), Thiruvalidayam, popularly known as Padi near Chennai and Trichendur – Navagraha star Guru is worshipped as Guru Bhagawan.
• Guru Bhagwan is present as Raja (Deva) Guru in a separate shrine between the shrines of Easwaran and Ambal.
• The Surya Kantha and Chandra Kantha stones on top of the ceiling in the sanctum sanctorum absorb moisture from the air and let it drip as water drops on the lingam. Water drops fall every 20-25 minutes.

4b. Visit to Sri Navaneetha Krishnan / Sri Rama Baktha Kariya Sidhi Anjaneyar temple at Thittai

Quick facts:

Main deity: Rukmani Sathyabama Sametha Krishnan facing east
Goddess: Hemabja Nayaki
Other main deity: Kariya Sidhi Anjaneyar facing North
Other deities: Lakshmi Narayan facing south, Garudazhwar facing west
Vimanam: Thuvithala vimanam
Sthala vruksham: Banyan, Parijatham (Pavazha malli)
Theertham: Jenbakarunya Pushkarani

The Temple:

Near to the Guru Bhagawan temple in the southwest direction, this small temple called Kariya Sidhi Anjaneyar is located. The main deity is Navaneetha Krishnan and the other main deity is Anjaneyar in a separate shrine in meditative pose. It is a popular belief here that by submitting one’s wish to the Anjaneyar and practicing worship as guided by the Anjaneyar(through the priest), the wish gets fulfilled. The process is as follows:

You get a set of items from the temple containing an unpeeled dry coconut (Matta Thengai), a jacket cloth piece and other pooja items for a nominal sum, write your address and the wish to be fulfilled in separate papers, make a bundle of all these by keeping the wish list inside the bundle and pasting the address paper outside. You hand over this to the priest who then submits it to the Anjaneyar deity in meditative pose. While the priest is submitting your wish to the Anjaneyar, the priest instructs to you the form of prayer practice (like lighting the deepam in an Anjaneyar temple) you have to take, the no of weeks you have to continue the practice and the no of days/ weeks it will take for the wish to get fulfilled. You have to be ready with a pen and paper to note it down since it will not be repeated. The bundle will be tied to a stick in an exclusive place within the temple and will remain there for a few months. After your wish is fulfilled, you are expected to visit the temple again to untie the bundle and perform an abisheham for the Anjaneyar.

Our relatives say that this Anjaneyar is very powerful and they have seen that this practice has brought about success in many cases. I have also submitted my personal wish and my kids’ wishes and I have to see the result. Immaterial of the result, we got into the habit of lighting the deepam in an Anjaneyar temple every Saturday and that too we try to do it in a new Anjaneyar temple which we have not visited before. This gives us an immense pleasure and we are extremely happy with this routine. We planned to continue this as long as we are able to.

The Mahasamprokshanam of the temple took place on 31^st Aug 2007.

Contact: Mr.Ramesh, Bhattar – 0436.2251885

Note on Guru Worship:

In most of the temples you will see only Lord Dakshinamoorthy as Guru Bhagawan and the following 3 places are considered very special because:

• All the 7 gurus are present in Uthamar koil,
• Lord Brahma is present as Guru in Thirupattur and
• Navagraha Guru is present as Guru in Thittai.

For someone desperate to seek Lord Guru’s blessings, the best way could be to visit all these three special Guru temples in a single day on a Thursday and I recommend the following for people who wish to do the same.

From Trichy, first you can visit Uthamar koil and from there to Thirupattur. Then while coming back you may visit Samayapuram. You can then go to Tanjore without coming to Trichy city by taking the bypass road at the Toll gate. Tanjore is just an hour drive from Trichy. At Tanjore, you can go to Thittai temple without going into the city by taking the bypass ring road and getting into the Kumbakonam road and then proceed towards Thittai. (From there you may visit Thirukandiyur as well).